SuperBike Magazine September 2020

12 SuperBike
MOTUL EMPOWERS WOMEN ON TWO WHEELS – AN ICONIC
EXPERIENCE FOR #ICONICWOMEN
On Saturday 22 August, Motul
South Africa demonstrated
its commitment to the ideals
of Women’s Month and the
#IconicWomen campaign. In partnership
with Honda South Africa, the
Motul team hosted a LEARN TO RIDE
A MOTORCYCLE day at ADA Training
and Outdoor Centre.
This event was a natural follow-on
to the nomination of Motul’s own
Mercia Jansen as part of the #IconicWomen
campaign developed and
managed by Shelby South Africa and
Road to Race.
“As part of this campaign, we
have each created an opportunity
for women to participate in something
that we’re passionate about.
My love of riding is something that
I have always wanted to share with
other women – hence the LEARN TO
RIDE A MOTORCYCLE day’” explained
Mercia Jansen, Motul Area Manager
for Southern and Eastern Africa. “I
have loved seeing all the videos and
photos from our day – the ladies’
beaming smiles made it clear how
much fun they were having, while
the pride and encouragement from
their partners and families made the
experience even more special,” she
added.
Adilia Joubert, one of the participants,
reported that she was excited
to have had the chance to learn to
ride machines that had previously
seemed too intimidating. “I was
inspired by Mercia revealing that
she had only started riding bikes
at 40. Since I have also recently hit
that milestone, and in the spirit of
life beginning at 40, I wanted to try
something new and more daring than
my other hobbies. My husband is a
keen motorcyclist, and this has been
something I’ve wanted to share with
him, but until now the fear factor was
just a little too much for me,” admitted
Adilia. “Now that I’ve had this
great experience, he can look forward
to some company on his weekend
rides,” she added.
Throughout the day, the ADA
Training and Outdoor Centre in
Hartbeespoort, North West Province,
echoed to whoops of joy as the lady
riders grew in confidence and began
to experience the feeling of freedom
that motorcyclists often refer to.
There was a real sense of camaraderie
between the women and their
partners, while the atmosphere at
the venue contributed to a successful
day for all the novice riders. A big
thank you to Honda SA for supplying
the bikes and allowing the attendees
– the riders and their partners - to
test out all the different models!
Legendary motorcyclist Brian
Capper was on hand to assist and
support the ladies during their
training, as were the professional
trainers supplied by ADA Training and
Outdoor Centre. The children who
had come along to watch their Moms
in action also got to enjoy the pedal
cars provided by Motul. The sight of
women riding bikes while husbands,
brothers and uncles pushed the kids
up and down the grass in the pedal
cars was exactly the kind of role-reversal
moment that the #IconicWomen
campaign aims to inspire.
The training session was followed
by lunch, with sparkling wine supplied
by the Boschendal Wine Estate.
“As a racing car driver, I was
delighted to have the chance to swap
my usual four wheels for just two,”
enthused Shelby SA/Road To Race’s
National Marketing Manager Paige
Lindenberg – the lady who first conceived
the idea of the #IconicWomen
campaign. “The professionalism
and patience of the trainers meant
that we all felt comfortable enough
to push ourselves a little more each
time we got onto the bikes,” added
Paige. She also urged women to
look out for forthcoming experiences
including a hot lap with Lindenberg in
her racing car.
Both Mercia and Paige reflected
on how successful the #IconicWomen
campaign has been in
building women’s confidence and
inspiring them to break down stereotypes
that may previously have discouraged
them from trying the kind
of new experiences that have traditionally
been seen as “male-dominated.”